But the trembling earth and the fluttering dust were more than enough to fill the onlookers' minds with the sound of the collision.
'My own weight now… seems to be no longer that of an ordinary person.'
Rising to his feet, Colin smiled.
With his current physical control ability, some techniques for dissipating force felt as natural as innate talents, effortlessly executed.
Throughout the process, he had not sustained a single injury, just like a normal person making an ordinary jump.
Moreover, whether leaping or falling, he had not used any Green Gold Energy or Magic Power to assist him; everything relied on his own body.
'Such a powerful body… and the transformation isn't even fully complete.
If I add the amplification of Green Gold Energy… I could already be considered extraordinary!'
'However, this Green Gold Energy… perhaps is no longer suitable to be called Blood Energy.'
Colin furrowed his brows and pondered:
"Call it Blood Power? Green Energy?"
"Hmm... Bronze Fighting Aura, perhaps that's more appropriate."
"Right now, I would consider myself a Bronze Knight, or perhaps… a First Rank Knight."
Eventually, Colin settled on the naming.
If the path of a Knight could break through to a Great Knight, then this meant that the current Bronze Knight was not the end either.
There would certainly be increases in the future.
'Have I now created a new system of the extraordinary?'
But soon enough, Colin shook his head and strode toward the basement to call out Renee and the others who were in hiding.
The experience that had allowed him to become a Bronze Knight was quite convoluted, and he didn't know if it could be replicated.
Even if it could be replicated, without the Ancient Tree Heart Crystal formed from the remnants of the Ancient Tree of Life, it would likely be difficult to reach his current level of strength…
As he walked, Colin thought randomly.
Advancing to a First Rank Knight brought comprehensive changes, not only to his strong physique but there were also many subtle aspects waiting to be discovered.
Especially since his advancement was so unique.
'No need to rush… The body transformation isn't even fully complete.'
'At least what can be discovered now is that the Strong Life Talent has also advanced to Strong Life (Golden).
And the Limit Breaking Points have yet to be used.'
Golden Paper gradually disappeared.
In the moonlight, Colin moved with a light step.
Nothing could be more pleasing than an improvement in strength.
...
The next day.
It was still early morning.
Colin slept in for a change.
Around nine in the morning, he pushed open the door to his bedroom.
Renee was standing outside, apparently having been waiting there for some time.
"Master, good morning," Renee greeted, then continued, "A visitor is looking for you, it's the landlord Hosone… He has been here since sunrise and has been waiting for three hours."
"Hosone, huh... I know," Colin smiled, "After I finish breakfast, bring him to the study."
Yesterday's advancement had left him in a rather good mood, whereas previously, if he had been busy cultivating, he would certainly not have agreed to meet this property dealer.
But now, he was suddenly interested.
...
"Sir, the maid has come."
Outside Villa Number Five, on the banks of the Leibo River.
The tall Knight spoke in a low voice to the middle-aged man beside him who was dressed meticulously and was watching the river scene with his hands behind his back.
"Hmm," Hosone withdrew his gaze, nodded slightly, and quickly walked to the gate.
Although he had been standing here for three hours, his expression remained calm, his stature upright.
Creak—
The tall black iron gate opened.
There stood the beautiful and serene young maid before the two men, her expression polite as she spoke:
"The master has agreed to see you, Mr. Hosone."
"Very well, Miss."
Hosone revealed a genuine smile and instructed the towering figure beside him with a few words before he alone stepped into the courtyard.
Renee led Hosone toward the study.
Colin had given instructions earlier that without his consent, all visitors must be turned away from the door and not allowed to step even halfway into the courtyard.
This morning when Hosone came to visit, Colin was not yet awake, so of course, he was turned away from the door.
Renee had thought Hosone would leave, but he had unexpectedly waited until now.
The two walked one after the other through the courtyard.
Around them lay a scene of complete disarray.
The withered vegetation, like a lawn that had been bombed... The traces of Colin's advancement from the day before had not yet been cleaned up.
After all, with the landlord just behind her, Renee wanted to say something, but eventually she closed her mouth and silently led the way in front.
However, although Hosone's expression remained calm as he followed behind, his mind was anything but tranquil.
It wasn't that he felt distressed, but the destruction in the courtyard unequivocally confirmed his suspicions.
"Perhaps he's practicing witchcraft?" he thought to himself, feeling somewhat disheartened yet also hopeful:
"Such power... indeed, only a Wizard could be considered extraordinary!
Knights... in the end, are merely mortals."
Knock knock knock—
"Please come in."
Hosone stepped into the study.
He was naturally familiar with this villa study, having designed and built it himself.
Even the study in his usual residence was arranged in the same way.
Except that the furniture and decorations used there were even more expensive, there was not a single difference...
So on days when he would visit these villas, especially the study, he often felt an illusion of returning home.
However, this time, as he stepped inside,
The usual illusion disappeared in an instant like grains of sand slipping through his fingertips.
He just felt that the room was incredibly unfamiliar.
The reason was nothing else—
But the blond and handsome man sitting at the main seat behind the desk, and the barely perceptible pressure of a superior life form that he was unintentionally radiating.
"What's the matter?"
Noticing Hosone's changed demeanor, Colin frowned and spoke out.
His voice was like the last straw to clutch at when drowning.
When it fell, the overwhelming and rigid pressure, like the tide, receded away.
Hosone, caring not for his composure, gasped for air.
On the other side, Colin examined himself thoughtfully.
"A superior creature's pressure, similar to Dragon Power... Clearly, this is not a power that comes from the path of the Knight; it must be related to the Ancient Tree Heart Crystal."
"No wonder Renee looked somewhat strange when I saw her earlier."
This pressure, when he was unaware, was like his breathing, passively continuous.
And once he became aware of it, the passivity, just like an instinct, could be freely controlled.
It was now that Colin actively retracted this pressure.
"Good morning, esteemed Lord Nade."
Having recovered his senses, Hosone took out a handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat from his forehead and quickly greeted Colin.
He was uncertain whether the pressure just now had been deliberate by Colin, so he added with a smile:
"Please forgive my rudeness."
But the pressure had truly been too terrifying; Hosone hadn't yet fully recovered, and his expression was still somewhat stiff, lacking its usual composure.
"It doesn't matter; it was my oversight," Colin responded casually, with a slight hint of apology in his tone.
He was a reasonable person, not averse to acknowledging his own mistakes.
As for Nade, that was the alias he used while here.
"Mr. Hosone, may I ask what brings you to me this time?"
Having said that, Colin continued to inquire.
After this incident, he realized his body still had many strange aspects, and subconsciously he wanted to study it thoroughly.
Thus, his interest in continuing the conversation with Hosone slightly waned.
However, he had a good impression of Hosone before him.
The ability to exert pressure that he had obtained after advancing came to light because of Hosone's discovery.
Overall, he still had the patience to continue the conversation with Hosone, not in any particular rush.
"I've come to extend an invitation to Lord Nade."
Hosone paused, then cut straight to the chase.
He had planned to exchange pleasantries before getting to the point, but the unexpected pressure had disrupted his plans.
However, this might be for the best, as he keenly noticed Colin seemed to want to finish the conversation quickly.
"Perhaps he has other urgent matters to attend to?"
Not daring to speculate further, Hosone carefully chose his words and continued:
"In the near future, the Royal Family will host a gathering at the Jade Hall in Nanao.
I happen to have two invitations, so I wanted to ask if you might be interested?"